Handling device, especially vaccum handling device

Abstract

The invention relates to a vacuum handling device with a suction box ( 12 ), a vacuum blower ( 22 ), a handling device ( 16 ) and a suction unit ( 20 ) obturating the suction box and consisting of a suction plate ( 26 ) and a suction pad ( 30 ). The inventive handling device is further characterized in that the suction unit is provided with suction openings ( 36 ) that have a certain flow resistance.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device having a suction chamber ( 12 ) forming a vacuum reservoir, at least one vacuum blower ( 22 ), specifically a handling device ( 16 ) and a suction unit ( 20 ) closing off the suction chamber ( 20 ) toward one or several workpieces to be lifted by vacuum, where the suction unit ( 20 ) has a suction plate ( 26 ) with flow changing means and the suction plate ( 26 ) is covered by a flexible suction pad ( 30 ) toward the workpiece or workpieces and the suction pad ( 30 ) is furnished with suction openings ( 36 ) which correspond to the flow changing means, where the suction pad ( 30 ) consists of an especially flexible, dense material and the means to change air flow of the suction plate ( 26 ) and/or the suction openings of the suction pad ( 30 ) have a resistance to flow, characterized in that at least one intermediate pad is interposed between the suction pad ( 30 ) and the suction plate ( 26 ), also consisting of a flexible material and furnished with through openings which correspond to the suction openings ( 36 ).  
     
     
         2 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from  claim 1 , wherein the suction unit ( 20 ) has an additional flexible lip ( 48 ,  54 ) around its circumference.  
     
     
         3 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from  claim 2 , wherein the edge ( 48 ,  54 ) is a foam or a rubber lip which projects beyond the free plane ( 50 ) of the suction unit ( 20 ).  
     
     
         4 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the edge ( 48 ,  54 ) is attached by means of clamping or bonding.  
     
     
         5 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction unit ( 20 ) is bonded to the suction box ( 12 ) or is solidly clamped thereto.  
     
     
         6 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction plate ( 26 ) has a dished configuration and has a circumferential edge ( 44 ) by means of which the suction plate ( 26 ) is solidly clamped to the suction box ( 12 ).  
     
     
         7 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction pad ( 30 ) is configured as a film.  
     
     
         8 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction plate ( 26 ) is supported on its back side by means of a flexible pad ( 68 ) permeable to air.  
     
     
         9 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction pad ( 30 ) is configured in several pieces, and one piece is formed by an air-impermeable, flexible pad ( 62 ) which has air passages ( 64 ).  
     
     
         10 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device  claim 9 , wherein the pad ( 62 ,  68 ) has lateral surfaces which are sealed tight against air.  
     
     
         11 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction pad ( 30 ) has suction openings ( 36 ) whose cross sections expand in the direction of the workpiece or workpieces.  
     
     
         12 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from  claim 11 , wherein the suction cross sections expand in the shape of a tulip.  
     
     
         13 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible, dense material is a closed-cell foam.  
     
     
         14 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction pad ( 30 ) has a circumferential edge projecting beyond the suction plate ( 26 ).  
     
     
         15 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction plate ( 26 ) has a circumferential edge projecting beyond the suction pad ( 30 ).  
     
     
         16 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow changing means of the suction plate ( 26 ) or the suction openings ( 36 ) of the suction pad ( 30 ) respectively have a regular grid pattern, for example a honeycomb pattern.  
     
     
         17 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow changing means of the suction plate ( 26 ) or the suction openings ( 36 ) of the suction pad ( 30 ) respectively have a grid pattern matching the arrangement of the workpieces.  
     
     
         18 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein a sandwich plate ( 78 ) is located between the intermediate pad ( 82 ) and the suction pad ( 30 ).  
     
     
         19 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from  claim 18 , wherein the sandwich plate ( 78 ) extends over only a part of the cross sectional area of the intermediate pad ( 82 ).  
     
     
         20 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from  claim 19 , wherein the sandwich plate ( 78 ) is configured in the form of strips and is disposed in the edge area of the intermediate pad ( 82 ) or of apertures ( 86 ).  
     
     
         21 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from  claim 19  and  20 , wherein the sandwich plate ( 78 ) is configured in the form of strips and the strips are disposed at a distance from each other.  
     
     
         22 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the  claims 1  to  18 , wherein the sandwich plate ( 78 ) extends over the entire cross sectional area of the intermediate pad ( 82 ).  
     
     
         23 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein several intermediate pads ( 82 ) and/or sandwich plates ( 78 ) are furnished and the suction unit ( 20 ) is of sandwich construction.  
     
     
         24 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow changing means are a plurality of openings ( 28 ), flow resistances and/or flow valves.  
     
     
         25 . Handling device, specifically vacuum handling device from  claim 25 , wherein the flow valves can be actuated individually or in groups.